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Why Small Cells Will Be Key to Powering 5G

The fight to implement 5G is on, with countries like the United States, China and South Korea leading 5G trials and viable launch plans. In the U.S. alone, Accenture predicts these next generation networks could ultimately add $500 billion to the economy.

The 5G networks will be driven by small cells – compact base stations that are installed every few hundred feet. A region covered with these antenna units will provide mobile 5G customers with reliable data services and seamless data handoff.

Small cells are critical for 5G deployment due to the fact that they utilize millimeter-wave spectrum, which lacks the signal range of the minor frequencies used by LTE services. Therefore, to achieve the needs of next-gen services like smart cities, remote medicine and the Internet of Things (IoT), it is important to ensure that they are installed in sufficient density.

Their petite size makes the cells simple to install on surfaces such as light poles, kiosks, billboards, and on the sides of buildings in an unassuming way. In certain regions, getting the necessary zoning approval for their placement has been difficult, but progress is being made. For example, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently permitted an order to streamline 5G infrastructure rollout.

Benefits of Small Cells

A profoundly different type of wireless network is perceived to play a critical role in offloading circulation from existing network towers. It will also allow Communication Service Providers (CSPs) to achieve more targeted and effective use of spectrum. For example, the small broadcast area of 5G means that the same frequencies used by one small cell to connect with customer devices could be recycled in a different space to serve other customers.

Small cells can also take as few as 30 minutes to install, making it effortless for CSPs to meet growing data traffic demand with more speed and cost-effectiveness. The high concentration of a small cell network also allows network organizers to more intelligently target usage hotspots based on a variety of factors, such as capacity and coverage requirements, high-value users, and customer churn propensity.

SD-WAN Reflections

Combined with artificial intelligence and real-time analytics, SD-WAN will be integral in developing the most value from small cell-powered 5G networks. An SDN/NFV-based control plane allows for the flexible and proficient distribution of network services to satisfy users’ different quality-of-service (QoS) demands. Also known as network slicing, small cells will be vital in making this scenario possible.

The high volume of small cell networks – which can require 5- 20 times more cells than LTE – will also raise challenges in terms of how they can be repeatedly optimized to deliver the best possible network performance. It means that automation, using technologies like SON (self-optimizing networks), will be imperative – and even more so when mass-scale adoption of IoT hugely escalates the quantity and variety of network elements.

Virtualization of small cell networks will allow network operatives to provide and control hefty numbers of access points more efficiently. In this situation, condensed bunches of cells in a high-traffic area could share a centralized controller that allows network resources to be allocated flexibly in harmony with traffic patterns. As 5G continues to progress, the ability to remotely upgrade whole clusters of small cells will also be valuable.

SD-WAN solutions also make remote branch offices easier to maintain. When combined with 5G, end users will experience significantly enhanced performance in applications such as video-conferencing, cloud computing and remote access.

Small cells do require significant upfront investment and a sharp learning curve from previous generations of wireless networks. But, they will be a keystone of future 5G deployment, and indispensable for delivering quick, reliable and efficient 5G services.

About the Author: Faisal Usmani is Business Development and Strategy Lead, Communications Business Unit, Cyient Europe. He has over 20 years of experience in the telecom industry across both fixed and wireless technologies space. He is the Business Development and Strategy Lead for Cyient Europe responsible for supporting pre-sales, solutions, strategy and innovation for the complete communications services portfolio. In this role, Faisal has been significantly involved in defining and delivering cost effective solutions for both fixed and wireless communications service providers.

Prior to joining Cyient, Faisal spent the early part of his career with Ericsson, KPMG Consulting and Atos Origin, where he held positions including Executive Consultant and NGOSS/NGN Solutions Capability Lead. He has worked with a wide range of leading global communications service providers including BT, KPN, Liberty Global and Vodafone.

Faisal holds an MSc in Telecommunications from University College London.

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